When Can Green Card Holders Be Deported?
Under the law in the United States, there is a lengthy list of grounds that may cause immigrants or non-citizens to face deportation from the country. The list is far more extensive than deporting people who are illegally in the country. Individuals who are green card or visa holders do have the right to live and work in the United States for long periods of time. Still, these individuals can be placed in removal proceedings if they do not follow certain rules. Below, our Tifton deportation defense lawyer explains in further detail.
Inadmissible vs. Deportable
There are two different issues for people who want to live in the United States. The first is being deemed ‘inadmissible.’ People are usually declared as inadmissible for people who are applying for a green card or visa for the first time. These individuals are simply deemed as being inadmissible to the country, often at a designated port of entry.
In rarer situations, green card holders may also find themselves being deemed as deportable and inadmissible. There are many grounds for deportation placed on green card holders, including committing a crime, particularly one of violence, in the United States. However, if a green card holder leaves the United States for 180 or more consecutive days, or they leave the United States during deportation proceedings, they will be deemed inadmissible even though they have lawful permanent resident status.
Grounds for Deportation of Lawful Permanent Residents
Lawful permanent residents, otherwise known as green card carriers, may face deportation from the United States for many reasons. Some of the most common grounds are as follows:
- The green card carrier was inadmissible at the time they entered the United States.
- The green card holder helped another foreign national illegally enter the country at any time before or during their five years of the date of entry to the United States.
- Marriage fraud was involved in obtaining a green card.
- The green card holder committed a crime of moral turpitude within five years of entering the United States.
- The green card holder was convicted of an aggravated felony after entering the United States.
- The green card holder failed to notify immigration authorities of a change of address within ten days of moving, unless they can show that the failure was not voluntary or it was reasonable.
How Can Lawful Permanent Residents Protect Themselves?
The only way lawful permanent residents can protect themselves from deportation is to become a U.S. citizen. The only exception to this is if they committed fraud to obtain a green card or citizenship. Therefore, it is recommended that immigrants apply for naturalization as soon as they become eligible. In most cases, this is five years after they have obtained their green card.
Our Deportation Defense Lawyer in Tifton Can Advise On Your Case
If you are a green card holder and you are fearing deportation, it is critical to speak to a Tifton deportation defense lawyer as soon as possible. For a consultation to discuss your needs and case, please call Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. today at 404-523-3611.
Source:
usa.gov/deportation-process
